A Bronze Bowl of Irchester Type from Stainfield, Lincolnshire

Abstract

dated, later in the second century. If these four stones are indeed of the same date, then it follows that RIB 2054 cannot date to late in the reign of Hadrian, since there is no occasion then for rebuilding west of Benwell. It therefore seems improbable that the turf wall west of Milecastle 54 was rebuilt in stone late in Hadrian's reign. Since it is unlikely that that rebuilding was delayed to late in the second century, it probably dates to c. A.D. 158. Probably II Augusta was involved in restoring the stone wall in the area west of Benwell, after the gap in occupation occasioned by the advance into Scotland under Antoninus Pius, as well as in rebuilding the final stretch of turf wall west of Milecastle 54 at the same time. The comparatively elaborate style of decoration of all four stones would certainly fit this date in the reign of Pius very well. Even more elaborate decoration appears on some stones from Benwell itself set up by II Augusta. These are RIB 1341, 1342, and I344. All feature the Capricorn and Pegasus, while the second and third record work by coh. II and coh.X respectively. It is not unreasonable to suggest that these stones may also belong to a quite extensive rebuilding in and to the west of Benwell fort, in or about A.D. 158. The same date may be appropriate for the dedication RIB 1330, which records (in the reign of Pius) a centurion of II Augusta, M. Liburnius Fronto. At the same date, A.D. 158, and a little further west, VI Victrix was involved in rebuilding: RIB 1389 records such activity in that year, and the use of REF(ecit) is quite explicit. After the advance into Scotland under Pius, it would appear that much of the Wall in the sector from Benwell to the west was demolished, and extensive rebuilding was required at the time of the re-occupation of Hadrian's Wall as a frontier line in A.D. I58. Why this should be is unfortunately not clear. But it seems very likely that RIB 1388, recording rebuilding by coh.X of VI Victrix, and RIB 1385, 1390, and 1391, recording rebuilding by Cohorts IV, VIII and X of XX Valeria Victrix, all belong to the same date.